Travel Resources

Bard Bus and Shuttle On select summer weekends, Bard offers round-trip bus service from Manhattan’s Lincoln Center directly to the Fisher Center, exclusively for performance ticket holders: $30 round-trip. Reservations are required. Box dinners can be ordered in advance for $10. Bard also offers shuttle service from and to the Poughkeepsie Metro-North train station for select performances: $10 each way.

Gas Prices
The price of gas at many of the stations in your zip code and those immediately surrounding it.

Jumpfest: From The Sublime To The Silly In Salisbury

Photos by Mark Niedhammer.

By Lisa Green

Very soon, there will be things going on in Salisbury you aren’t likely to find anywhere else: a human dog sled race, a leaf blower air hockey tournament, a curling demonstration. And most especially, the annual Jumpfest Winter Festival, with the 89th Salisbury Invitational Championships at the Satre Hill Ski Jumps as its centerpiece February 6-8.

Sponsored by the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA), a volunteer-driven organization, Jumpfest (including the Winter Festival in the week preceding) is the organization’s main fundraiser.

“A lot of people don’t realize we’re a nonprofit,” says Willie Hallihan, an SWSA board member and one of the volunteer organizers. “Our mission is to teach children how to ski, both downhill and cross country. We provide the equipment for jumping, travel money and scholarships.”

The effort pays off. Three of the four ski jumpers on the Olympics team last year competed here. It’s a sure bet that some of the young competitors will end up in the next Winter Games. Jumpfest culminates with the Eastern US Jumping Championships.

Last year, the three-day festival started a week early with art show openings, restaurant specials, a cocktail party and other events. “It turned into more of a winter festival, with ski jumping as its core, but it allowed other local businesses to benefit, too,” Hallihan says. This year, there’s a “Slackers Triathlon” kickoff party at Sharon Valley Tavern, and throughout the week retailers and restaurants will be offering specials and sales. Also on the schedule: gallery receptions, tastings and a host of other mingling events.

Jumpfest events start on Friday evening with a chili cook-off prior to the target jumping, followed by the ever-popular human dogsled races. The weekend will feature spectacular ice carving demonstrations, and leaf blower air hockey, which is not done anywhere else in the contiguous United States, says Hallihan. Participants wear backpack or handheld leaf blowers and blow a ball into a goal. “We don’t think it will require a lot of human prowess. Saturday night’s the Snow Ball Dance, and throughout the weekend there will be activities for the kids including sledding and hot chocolate, and a ski jump simulator that lets little ones get a taste of what being airborne feels like.

But it’s the ski jumping that really brings out the crowds. In 2014 about 5,000 people attended (the weather was perfect, says Hallihan). If Mother Nature doesn’t provide any snow this year, they’ll make it.

“If you have not seen ski jumping live, hearing the skis slapping down, people ringing cowbells, people cheering, you haven’t seen the sport,” Hallihan says. “Once you have, you’ll probably come back.”

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Let It Snow! Spots for Snowshoeing & Cross-Country Skiing

A skier enjoys Notchview in Windsor, MA.

Whether cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or merely sledding, now is the time and this is the place. Guardians of some of the region’s largest, most scenic properties—from country clubs to art parks to historic estates to resorts like Cranwell in Lenox—are throwing open their gates and welcoming snow-sports enthusiasts. Always call first or check websites to make sure snow and weather conditions are favorable.

Berkshire County

Canterbury Farm Ski Area1986 Fred Snow Road, Becket
413-623-0100
Open every day, Canterbury Farm is a mini winter resort with 22 kilometers of groomed trails in an idyllic setting. You can rent skis, snowshoes and skates, and lessons are available as well.

Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Course55 Lee Road, Lenox
413-637-1364
You don’t have to be an overnight guest to enjoy the pleasures of this landmark resort hotel. You can rent skates and state-of-the-art skis to explore the ten kilometers of groomed trails.

Hilltop Orchards508 Canaan Rd / Rt 295, Richmond
800-833-6274
What could be more picturesque than skiing on a groomed trail through an apple orchard with mountain views? Perhaps a moonlight snowshoe trek and bonfire on Saturday, January 31. The guided tour leaves promptly at 6:30 p.m., weather permitting. Afterward, warm up by the bonfire or inside by the fireplace. Wine will be for sale at the orchard that is also home to Furnace Brook Winery. $10 per person (snowshoe rentals available on-site for an additional fee). Reservations: 800-833-6274

Kennedy Park & The Arcadian Shop91 Pittsfield Road, Lenox
413-637-3010
Do you ever wonder why the parking lot at this wonderful outdoor gear shop is always so crowded when the snow is deep? With direct access to the trails of Kennedy Park and ski rentals ($20 a day), this is an easy way to explore nature in the heart of Berkshire County.

NotchviewRoute 9, Windsor
413-684-0148
If you’ve never before visited Notchview, it’s always a good time. Open daily, the Budd Visitor Center features a masonry heater, a perfect place to take a break with hot drinks and food. In addition to the intermediate and expert trails there are also seven beginner trails, so it’s very friendly to those new to the sport.

Columbia County

Clermont State Historic SiteOne Clermont Avenue, Germantown
518-537-4240
You can always ski for free at this magnificent property. Families can spend the afternoon skiing and sledding while taking in magnificent Hudson River and Catskill Mountain views.

Staatsburgh State Historic Site and Margaret Lewis Norrie State ParkOld Post Road, Staatsburgh
845-889-8851
Great estates such as the Mills Mansion set on 192 acres in the heart of the Hudson Valley are one of the reasons New York is known as the Empire State. You can cross country ski there daily in the shadows of the Catskill Mountains and at the adjacent Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park.

Great Mountain Forest201 Windrow Road, Norfolk
860-542-5422
Skiers must sign in and sign out at one of the visitor registers located at the gated entrances in Norfolk (Windrow Road) or Canaan (Canaan Mountain Road).

Topsmead State ForestBuell Road, Litchfield
860-424-3200
Like so many of our cherished state parks, Topsmead was once a private estate, the summer home of Miss Edith Morton Chase. It becomes a winter wonderland when covered in snow.

White Memorial Conservation Center80 Whitehall Road, Litchfield
860-567-0857
With more than 35 miles of hiking trails on 4,000 acres, White Memorial—former home of Alain White and his sister, May, that has been a not-for-profit educational center since 1964—has many pathways for skiing and snowshoeing.

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Kitchens For A Cause: The 12th Annual NWCT Kitchen Tour

If you’re looking for pie-in-the-sky kitchen design ideas, you can read scores of shelter magazines, watch endless HGTV programs, and tour pristine kitchen showrooms. But the best way to accumulate ideas for redoing your own kitchen is snooping around other people’s houses to see where they’ve hidden the recycling bins and where they’ve put the sinks (yes, no self-respecting kitchen has just one sink anymore). Whether you’re thinking about resale value or just your own needs for cooking and entertaining with ease, the 12th annual Kitchen Tour of Northwest Connecticut offers five private kitchens to visit on Saturday, November 1. The tour raises funds for the Housatonic Musical Theatre Society, which provides the backing so that students at Housatonic Valley Regional High School can produce a full-fledged musical (The Boy Friend, March 19 - 21, 2015), because unlike the fictional high school on the TV show Glee, there’s not enough money in the public school budget to support musical theater as an extra-curricular activity.

The five kitchens on the tour — which covers Sharon and Lakeville — each displays a uniquely inspiring approach to the “heart of the home.” They include: new construction that incorporates genuine period pieces and details; artist Ellen Griesedieck’s vibrant interpretation that includes a bonus tour of her art studio; a Victorian home with a light-filled kitchen and a spectacular view; a 1929 farmhouse with hand-painted custom-built cabinets, marble countertops and vintage lighting; and a Colonial set on 32 acres, with a modern kitchen that includes a center island, plentiful prep areas, and an informal eating area. Local caterers and restaurants will be offering “nibbles” at each kitchen on the tour, local florists will create unique bouquets for each house, and a number of raffle prizes from area shops will be up for grabs.

Lori Belter, founder of the Housatonic Musical Theatre Society, says the fundraiser isn’t simply supporting a play, but an invaluable program that instills self-confidence in the students who participate in it. Athletes perform side by side with drama students, and, she says, “Students with very different interests come together and they form a bond.”

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It’s Baaaaack: The New York State Sheep & Wool Festival

October 18 & 19 in RhinebeckA few years ago, a friend of mine bought a 200-year-old manor house near the Hudson River with an impenetrable, overgrown meadow, and he decided that keeping goats might be the most efficient, ecological and economical way to clear and maintain the land. He knew nothing about goats so he persuaded me to accompany him to the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, which was as entertaining as it was educational. We toured the livestock area and met dozens of people who raise goats, and they were all full of tips about fencing, shearing and milking. So were the sheep owners and breeders who were justifiably proud of their beautiful animals that often had exotic pedigrees. “Are you looking for a fiber animal?” the exhibitors would say, making me aware of the distinction between animals raised only for their wool and those raised for food.

If you’ve been mulling the idea of getting some sheep to maintain your lawn and up your rural cred, the Sheep and Wool Festival is a must. You can find lots of folks who’ll advise you on what type of fences and outbuildings you’ll need and how to keep the animals’ water troughs from freezing during the winter. At the festival, my friend learned that he’d also have to get two gigantic Great Pyrenees to guard the Shetland sheep he was coveting. Apparently, coyotes like to dine on lamb.

Even if you have no interest in keeping livestock, the festival makes for a wonderful outing; it’s part petting zoo and part holiday bazaar. If you knit, you can find skeins of every imaginable type of wool from suppliers like Red Hook’s Hudson Valley Sheep and Wool, and you can attend workshops in spinning and felt-making. And if you’re planning ahead for the holidays, you can buy handmade scarves, blankets, ponchos and mittens from dozens of vendors. And if you’re bringing children, the organizers suggest that the sheep dog trials, leaping lama contest, and canine Frisbee Demonstration will equally amuse the kids and adults. — Dan Shaw

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A Fall Foliage Drive: Millerton to Hudson, NY (or Vice Versa)

Not all scenic drives are created equal, and this bucolic 30-mile jaunt delivers enough smiles per mile to justify the gasoline you’ll use. The route, which connects Millerton and Hudson, is not only an insider’s shortcut between the two towns, but also a reminder that local agriculture is the key to preserving the rural landscape.

Though we started our drive in Millerton and ended at Olana, you can just as easily do this trip in reverse, concluding at the Harney & Sons Tea Lounge. The route is a rural cliche in the best sense, as along the way you can buy pumpkins and gourds, pick apples, shop for baked goods, and procure the last tomatoes and peaches of the season. You can even pick fall raspberries which, for some reason, are so much tastier than the ones you get in early summer. Best of all, you can revel in the vistas and fall foliage, and marvel that we reside in such an unspoiled land.

Begin at the intersection of Route 44 and Route 22 in Millerton. Head north on 22 and make your first left onto Route 60 (a.k.a. Winchell Mountain Road). When you reach the peak of the hill, there will be a cemetery on your left; make a right on Pulver Road, passing farmland and views of the Catskill Mountains in the distance. Make a left at the fork onto County Route 60, which brings you into Ancramdale. If you need coffee and an egg sandwhich, stop at The Farmer’s Wife. Continue straight ahead on 82, which becomes Route 23 when you cross Route 9, continuing on until you reach Route 9G. Turn left onto 9G just before the Rip Van Winkle Bridge.

Millerhurst Gardens
This farm offers more than just the perfect background for family photos. The pumpkins and gourds here are in pristine condition and they are exceedingly well-priced, with extra large pumpkins you can barely lift at just $10 each.3201 Rte. 82, Ancram; 518.329.2280

Thompson Finch Farm
Thompson-Finch is not hard to find; it’s the second right, Wiltsie Bridge Road, after you pass through Ancram. As of September 27, you could still pick organic raspberries on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but call first to double check availability or check their website for daily updates.750 Wiltsie Bridge Rd., Ancram; 518.329.7578

The West Taghkanic Diner
Whether it’s early or late in the day, this vintage 1953 diner is always convenient (and affordable) for comfort food like grilled cheese and french fries. It’s not hyperbole to say this is as all-American as it gets and feels like an appropriate stop when on a long country drive. 1016 State Rte. 82, Ancram; 518.851.7117

Taconic Orchards
If your impulse is to bypass any place that looks like it was designed to appeal to tourists, you’ll drive right by the yellow barn that resembles a set director’s conception of a country store that you’d come upon on a Sunday drive in Columbia County. It’s exactly what you’d suspect, and Taconic Orchards has the aw-shucks feel of an old-time general store, with over 20 different varieties of apples, locally made cider, pies, apple fritters, fudge and a large variety of produce. 591 Rte. 82 Hudson; 518.851.7477

Fix Brothers Fruit Farm
Heading towards Olana, you will see a sign for “Fix Bros. Pick Your Own Apples.” Follow the arrows and you’ll pass acres and acres of orchards. This fourth-generation family farm has a wide variety of apples, including Macintosh, Cortland, Honey Crisp, Empire, Macoun and Jonagold. A corn maze and hay ride will keep the kids happy. And they’re open every day. 215 White Birch Rd., Hudson; 518.828.7560

Olana
If you want to tour the inside of the fantastical 19th-century Persian-style house, you have to call in advance and make a reservation. The owner and creator of Olana, the revered artist Frederic Church, created a landscape that makes the most of its hilltop setting, and the view down the Hudson looks like one of his famous paintings. It’s a magnificent vista any time of day, but never more so than just before sunset. 5720 Rte. 9G, Hudson; 518.828.0135

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Autumn Outings: Harvest Festivals Across the Region

By Rachel Louchen

Oh summer, we hardly knew ye. After our never-ending winter, it felt like things finally were getting warm again. But if there’s one positive that comes with the return of cooler temps, it’s the abundance of harvest festivals and autumn activities in our region. Whether you want to go the traditional route with hay rides and apple pressing, or mix it up with some garlic ice cream, you have the best of three states to chose from.

Berkshire County

Hancock Shaker Village County Fair, Pittsfield
September 27 – 28, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
A bountiful festival featuring a farmers’ market, local and regional arts and crafts, horse-drawn wagon rides and agricultural demonstrations set against the perfect backdrop of the grounds at Hancock Shaker Village.

Lenox Apple Squeeze
September 27 – 28, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The two-day festival celebrates autumn in the Berkshires with a memorable street fair featuring food, rides, music and shopping, plus there will be crafts, artists and vendors all down Main Street.

Northern Berkshire Fall Foliage Parade, North Adams
October 3 – 5, parade begins at 1 p.m.
A full weekend of events, culminating with the sizable Fall Foliage Parade. This year’s theme, “100th Anniversary of the Mohawk Trail,” celebrates the adventures people have experienced while hiking the trail over the last century, and pays homage to the culture it brings to our region. Other events over the weekend include a 5K race, children and dog parades and an all-you-can-eat breakfast.

Berkshire Botanical Harvest Fest, Stockbridge
October 11 – 12, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Celebrate the bounty at this annual festival that usually draws a huge turnout (up to 10,000) and offers events for all ages. Showcasing local arts and crafters and artisan food producers, the festival also brings in food trucks, runs a silent auction, entertainment, tag sale, country bazaar, used book sale, jewelry boutique, plant and bulb sale and farmers’ market. All proceeds support the educational programs at the Garden.

Berkshire Coaching Festival, Stockbridge and Lenox
October 11 – 13, times vary
This festival takes advantage of the beautiful foliage scenes in the Berkshires via horse-drawn carriages that pass through Stockbridge and Lenox. Departure locations are Shakespeare & Company on Saturday, October 11; the Norman Rockwell Museum on Sunday, October 12; and The Mount on Monday, October 13. The Gilded Age experience is further heightened by formal attire; men are encouraged to wear suits, and women can take the opportunity to try on the era in dresses and long skirts.

Columbia County

Chatham Farm and Art Tour
September 27, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Chatham Agricultural Partnership offers a glimpse into the life of a farmer with a full (free) day of local farm tours. The sixth annual event will have products available for purchase from farm stands; horses, alpacas, sheep and cattle will be present for children to enjoy; and some farms will offer special activities. New this year, the featured farms will exhibit artwork inspired by the beauty and vitality of farming life in Chatham. Farm locations vary.

FarmOn! Friends of the Farmer Hudson Valley Food Lovers Festival 2014, Copake
September 27, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The unique, experimental event (which also features a live performance from a Disney music artist) introduces attendees to food businesses from throughout the Hudson Valley. Celebrate local farms and food producers and take advantage of the best seasonal fruits and vegetables available. Eat, drink, enjoy a picnic, pet farm animals, try free samples and sign up for CSAs.

The Sylvia Center’s Fall Harvest Day And Community Potluck, Kinderhook
September 27, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Activities include pressing fresh cider, helping with garden projects, visiting with animals and horsing around on hay rides. Bring a dish for the potluck lunch or participate in the 11 a.m. cooking class and help the chefs prepare the meal on the farm using a wood-fired oven.

Hawthorne Valley Fall Festival, Ghent
October 12, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Celebrating its 20th year, the festival features events that are synonymous with the season: hay mazes and rides, apple cider pressing, pie baking, scarecrow making, pumpkin carving. There will also be a large selection of local foods, live music and an open house at Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School.

Autumn in Austerlitz
October 12, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The day serves as a living history museum depicting the town of Austerlitz as it would’ve been in the 1830s. The 18th annual event features volunteers dressed in early 19th-century costumes, as well as antiques, live music, food, activities for children and craft vendors.

Litchfield County

Salisbury Fall Festival
October 10 – 12, Salisbury and Lakeville; times vary
In the twin villages of Salisbury and Lakeville, churches, local businesses and merchants participate in this harvest festival, which includes rummage sales, book sales, bread-making classes, a scarecrow contest, live music and hay rides for the kids. A highlight of the busy weekend is the pancake breakfast on Sunday morning at Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service.

Harvest Bounty Wine & Brew Fest, Litchfield
October 18, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Attendees can sample local and domestic craft beer and wine from more than a dozen vendors. There will also be food, indoor and outdoor settings with firepits, raffles, two live bands and free tasting glasses to the first 300 people.

Kent Pumpkin Run
October 26, 12 p.m.
The spectator-friendly five-mile race starts and finishes at the Kent Green and has offers music, refreshments, face painting and Halloween-themed fun. Everyone is invited to attend the post-race party along with the runners.

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Hudson River Valley Ramble Is More Than A Walk In The Park

Tour Innisfree Garden in Millbrook on September 27.

By Amy Krzanik

The 15th Annual Hudson River Valley Ramble is something of a misnomer, as it involves so much more than leisurely strolls. Occurring every Saturday and Sunday in September, the Ramble celebrates the trails, the river and the historic and cultural resources of the Hudson River Valley Greenway and National Heritage Area, which extends from Saratoga County to the Bronx. It includes guided walks of all types, but also encompasses fun runs and races for charity, hikes and bike tours, kayak and canoe trips, stargazing, bird watching and more.

Mark Castiglione, the acting executive director of the Hudson River Valley Greenway, says that the goal of the Ramble is to connect people with the resources and organizations in their area, so that they’ll become involved stewards of their surroundings. “We’re trying to connect people to the history of the land, because when people know about and appreciate the sites, they become advocates for them.”

Take a ramble to Bash Bish Falls on September 27.

Each year offers new events, so even if you’ve rambled before, it’s a great time to do it again. “Every year when I look at the Ramble booklet, I’m amazed by all the new things I didn’t know about,” Castiglione says. And an added bonus to touring sites at Ramble time, he says, is that “the tours are led by experienced guides who can orient you to the history of the landscape, which enhances the overall experience.” So you can walk away from an active and pleasant day knowing a lot more about the scenery than someone who goes it alone.

Ramble activities are held in 14 counties and feature more than 200 events in all, but here we’ll focus on a handful of Columbia and Dutchess County excursions to give you an idea of the broad range of events offered.

September 20 In tandem with the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program, garden blogger Margaret Roach’s grounds will be open for touring, along with a rare plant sale held by Broken Arrow Nursery.

September 21 Join Dr. Willie Yee and Joe Macagne from the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association for a Night Under The Stars at Olana. Various sizes of telescopes will be provided to view the moon, comets and stellar clusters. Please pre-register by September 19 to (518) 828-1872, x109 or shasbrook@olana.org.

Cycle through the farmland of Dutchess and Columbia counties on Sept. 20.

September 27 See Lindenwald in a whole new light when you take a lantern lit journey of Martin Van Buren’s home with an NPS Park Ranger and learn about life after dark in the 19th century. Reservations required, (518) 758-9689.

September 14What You See and What You Don’t See: Enjoy a leisurely guided stroll through the grounds of Staatsburgh, which was designed in 1895 to showcase the good life in the Gilded Age, while deliberately hiding the technology and labor that made a turn-of-the-century estate run.

September 20Farmland Cycling Tour: Energize with fresh donuts, cider and apples (courtesy of local farmers), then pedal through the rolling countryside of Dutchess and Columbia counties. After returning to Poets’ Walk, enjoy a fabulous lunch while listening to live music. If you don’t want to ride, join in anyway for a fun day in the park.

Hike through the apple orchard at Peach Hill Park in Poughkeepsie on September 28.

September 20 & 21Revolutionary War Re-enactors Weekend: Re-enactors will have an Encampment on the grounds of the Van Wyck Homestead Museum all weekend with cooking, blacksmith and musket-firing demonstrations scheduled throughout the day. The homestead served as Officers’ Headquarters during the American Revolution. Guides will escort visitors to the Continental Army and Militia Soldiers burial ground located nearby, where an estimated 700-1,000 soldiers were buried, making it the largest Revolutionary War soldiers’ burial site in America.

September 27 Recognized as one of the “world’s ten best gardens,” Innisfree is a powerful icon of 20th-century landscape design. Join the Landscape Curator for a 90-minute tour exploring the garden, its rich history and its unique design.

September 28 During the Apple Cider Ramble, hike through the old apple orchard at Peach Hill Park and collect apples along the way. At the end of the hike, help press your apples into cider.

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Behold! New Lebanon Is A Living Museum Of Rural Life

By Lisa Green

We’re quite fond of our towns, villages and hamlets in the Rural Intelligence region. But let’s face it, some towns beg you to jump out of the car and explore their Main Street, while others seem more like drive-through towns. The rural New Lebanon, despite its presumptive cachet as a “Hudson Valley town” hasn’t been able to rev its economic engine the way, say, Hudson — its polar opposite less than 30 miles away — has.

But that may be changing, and it won’t be by rehabbing historic buildings, bringing in big name chefs from the city or creating a design district (or any district, for that matter). It will be in the recognition that the heritage, agriculture, scenery, food, culture, arts, crafts of New Lebanon — in other words, the people who live there — have skills and experience to share with visitors.

That’s the mission behind Behold! New Lebanon, a living museum of today’s rural American life. Last weekend kicked off a series of four weekends this fall. Consider it a “choose your own adventure” in which you can go into the homes, farms, workshops and places of businesses of the people who are living successfully in rural America.

That might mean visiting a first-generation farmer and finding out why and how he’s harvesting 150 varieties of organic vegetables using two Belgian draft horses. Getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the Lebanon Valley Speedway, or learning why the town’s postmaster loves hunting — without a gun. Or watching a chef as she demonstrates how to make New Lebanon’s famed slab pie. It’s an opportunity to find out who lives in a small town and how they spend their time.

Each event is eye opening, bringing focus to a city dweller or suburbanite’s possibly fuzzy lens on rural life. The “country guides,” who are paid an honorarium, are sharing their hopes and dreams — things you cannot glean when cruising Route 20 on your way to I-90.

Behold! New Lebanon is the brainchild of Ruth Abram [photo, right], an historian and activist who founded the wildly successful Lower East Side Tenement Museum. The concept of Behold! New Lebanon was tied with an economic mission. After Abram bought a weekend home in New Lebanon, it saddened her to learn of the town’s early shining history, contrasted with the current situation of its loss of businesses and people.

“In the 18th and 19th centuries, New Lebanon was the natural healing center of the world,” Abram explains, referring to the world-famous Lebanon Springs. “It was alive with spirituality. The Shakers were here. The abolition and temperance movements were here. It was a centerpiece of evangelical thought.” It was thriving — a very different story from what she found in her new community.

Abram isn’t exactly evangelizing, but listen to her and you’ll see the idea makes sense. “We see Behold! New Lebanon as a way to serve as an economic engine for the entire town,” she says. “Inviting the resident ‘experts’ to share their knowledge, talent and enthusiasm for the rural life can ignite their wherewithal to bring in tourism dollars and” — keeping the historical reference going — “create their own salvation. We hope that people from surrounding cities and suburbs will visit Behold! New Lebanon, and enjoy their interactions with our marvelous country guides and our magnificent landscapes.”

At the Visitor’s Center, Rich Crouch handles registration.

Bring a good idea to the table, and people will come. The program has been seeded by donations (and, as a nonprofit, will be applying for grants). The New Lebanon community has embraced Abram’s idea and it showed at their launch day. The Visitor’s Center (a rather deluxe shed, which was donated for Behold! Lebanon’s use by the Shed Man) was practically vibrating with good spirit and excitement as volunteers registered visitors, shepherded them to their events (a bus drops off and picks up visitors; no need to seek out the locations on unfamiliar country roads) and hand out surveys.

Tickets range from $25 for a one-day pass to $40 for a weekend of events. Residents of nearby towns get a 50-percent discount. Kids 12 and under are free.

Even that first day, the mission was being well accomplished. “I’ve lived in this area for years, but never knew how to find out about these people and places,” said one participant.

The country guides express enthusiasm for the program. The common refrain: they simply like showing and telling people about themselves. Melanie Hunt, owner of the Blueberry Hill Market Cafe, enjoys the opportunity to talk about what she does. “Instead of just doing, it’s nice to talk about what we do,” which is, for Behold! Lebanon, the slab pie demonstration and a coffee chat.

“I think it’s a tremendous effort to promote this wonderful town,” said Heather Van Ort, who is owner and designer of Masterpiece Jewelry Studio, and whose event was “Gemstones Demystified: Pearls Renewed.” Eric Johnson of Wild Goose Chase NE (he demonstrates how he trains dogs to help people rid their ponds of geese in a humane way) acknowledges that some residents have expressed some skepticism for the venture. But he appreciates that it helps preserve the town’s heritage. Plus, he says, “it’s a way to self promote. Anytime I can present myself as a dog trainer to the public, it’s a good thing.”

And, if the concept works in New Lebanon, Abrams says, why not in other towns?

“I want to establish a working model for small towns to use their own resources to benefit the town, and develop a how-to manual for other towns.”

The logo and website were designed by Peter Blandori of Columbia County.

So sign up and get on the bus to “Surviving in the Forest,” “Pigs On Whey,” Working Dogs,” “The Farming Life” or any of the other events, available only in New Lebanon. You’ll walk away from these authentic experiences — and people — awed and impressed, as I was. Plus, you’ll be helping them expand their tourism base. And that is rural intelligence at its best.

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W. Cornwall’s Covered Bridge Parties With A Paint-In

By Kimberly Jordan Allen

Some people know it as the Kissing Bridge. Others recognize it from its cameo in the opening scene of the 1967 film Valley of the Dolls. And for some Connecticut residents, it’s just the way they get to work each day.

“Our family has been crossing this bridge for 150 years,” says Melissa Andrews of West Cornwall. She’s talking about the West Cornwall Covered Bridge, a New England landmark that celebrates a big birthday this year.

On Saturday, July 26, local artists will mark the bridge’s 150th year with “Paint the Bridge Day.” Artists, professional and amateur, are invited to render the landmark in whatever medium they choose — photographs, paintings, drawings, sketches, or sculpture — and their work will be on sale that same afternoon. Space will be limited, so if you want to participate in the creative rendering, arrive early to choose a good spot on the riverbanks.

Proceeds from the sale will go to the artists and West Cornwall Village Improvement Association for maintenance of the flower-filled areas surrounding the bridge — riverbanks that have long been used for contemplating and absorbing the scenic beauty of the Housatonic River. Submissions must be entered by 2 p.m. and a sale and reception will follow from 3-6 p.m. at Cornwall Bridge Pottery [shown right]. The artwork will be exhibited through the following day.

The iconic covered crossing is a piece of Americana that was built in 1864. The bridge is made from red spruce and tree nails (wooden pegs) and is 172 feet long and 15 feet wide. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, it has been renovated, reinforced and painted over the years to handle weathering and the increased traffic of the area, but otherwise, it’s unchanged.

The bridge was originally named after the Hart family, dairy farmers who lived in Sharon, CT, who constructed the bridge in the early 1800s for traveling to and from West Cornwall farmland. Since then, it’s become recognized as a significant example of New England architecture, featured in many books and websites as a scenic Connecticut destination. The construction and history also prompted the creation of a booklet by historian Michael Gannett.

Brendan O’Connell West Cornwall resident and well-known contemporary artist, will be participating in Saturday’s event and selling his work at the celebration. “We’re painting landmarks and natural beauty that are disappearing in other parts of the world,” O’Connell says.

Bianca Langner Griggs [left], owner of the Wish House shop in downtown West Cornwall, organized the event and is thrilled to gather locals in town to enjoy its historical features. “We should constantly have parties and get-togethers,” she says. With the help of Debra Tyler, active homesteader and owner of Local Farm, Langner Griggs created the farmers’ market eight years ago after the last grocery store had closed in West Cornwall. “We feel it necessary to continue to bring people together. Celebrating our landmarks is a way to gather the community and draw attention to this beautiful, bucolic town. Just as the farmers’ market brings people together, celebrations do the same.”

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Ramblewild Sees The Forest For The Trees — And Then Some

A tree-hugger’s dream-come-true has materialized in the forest on Brodie Mountain in Lanesborough, MA.

At the same place and time, anyone who fancies a challenging adventure on the mountain will be equally delighted.

The two interests can coexist, and they do, in Ramblewild, the tree-to-tree adventure trail that’s not so much an adventure “park” as an immersion into nature, which visitors happen to experience via aerial courses that include riding saddles across a river gorge or a snowboard on a zip line.

There’s something else that sets Ramblewild apart from other adventure parks: it’s owned by Feronia Forests, a corporation that, it says, sees the forest for the trees — and wants to see it that way in perpetuity. Rather than razing the forest for timber, Feronia chooses to offset its revenue with recreation and environmentally friendly businesses. Mostly, though, the company wants people (focus on young people) to learn about the forest as they learn about themselves.

On a preview tour of the property, a red fox dashed across a trail.

Ramblewild CEO Tim Gallagher at the top of the mountain.

“See, that’s what we want kids to see,” says Ramblewild’s CEO Tim Gallagher. “We want to give kids who don’t get to experience nature the chance to see things like this. If we can get young people interested in nature, they will become stewards of the forest.”

The goal, he says, is to get every visitor to develop an understanding, appreciation and respect for nature, and see that by coming to Ramblewild, they’re helping to preserve the woodlands, protect the wildlife and conserve energy.

But back to the adventure part: Ramblewild, which officially opened on June 21, takes its visitors off the grid (no cellphones allowed while aerial bound) while they’re flying from platform to platform. There are 135 platforms in all, located on eight separate trails throughout seven acres. There’s no electricity on the trails, either, so it’s fly-by-daylight or moonlight.

Once adventurers pay admission (prices range from $55 for a child to $69 for adults for a three-hour visit), they’re handed a safety harness and shown how to use it. Walking up the main trail, they hit a practice area where they learn the basic skills needed to negotiate the self-guided tours. Gallagher says visitors will have time to go on 3 to 4 trails in a visit; there are 12 to 15 sections per trail. Trails range from lower, beginner trails to much higher, more difficult expert courses.

Harnesses and helmets ready for a crowd.

Safety is a given; the full-body harnesses have a safety system, and everyone wears a helmet. There are staff operators on each of the platforms and others monitoring action on the ground. Those who would rather be earthbound are welcome to just walk the trails, and parents can follow their kids and take pictures from down below.

Feronia is serious about its mission to sustain forests, and sees its future in education. Its Feronia Forest Fund is a nonprofit created with the mission to connect youth with forests and their ecosystems, and the funds are being used to bring inner city schoolkids to the Berkshire woods. As an extension of its “sustainable full forestry” mission, Ramblewild leases part of the land to the owner of the Berkshire Wind turbines on Brodie Mountain. There’s also a maple syrup operation (with 110 acres of tubing and 7,500 taps), with the sap being processed at Ioka Valley Farm just down the road. Plans to install solar panels near the turbines are in the works.

The climbing wall.

Despite the 135 tree-to-tree elements, little of the property has been modified and everything on the challenge courses has been installed without harm to the trees; in fact, not one tree has been subjected to a nail or spike, thanks to an ingenious clamp system that holds up the platforms and lines.

Gallahger, born and raised in Dalton, has a background that, in hindsight, seems to have put him squarely on a trail to Ramblewild. At Hillcrest Educational Centers in the Berkshires, he ran the adventure-based skills program and was director of training and staff, and then business development, there. He had his own team-building company, and at Canyon Ranch, was director of health and healing. Now he’s training Ramblewild’s staff of 25-30, some of whom also have Canyon Ranch backgrounds.

While families, school groups and of course tourists are a target market, Ramblewild also hopes to attract other groups looking for ways to practice team-building exercises. Prior to its public opening, Ramblewild hosted several middle school groups. The kids were completely engaged with the physical and mental challenges of the courses. In fact, Gallagher was surprised that their presence didn’t create a lot of noise. It was as if they took their cue from the hush of the forest.